So Susan June 2016

This months "So Susan" subscription arrived it is the "I Love Hugs" Bag with a quote by Ann Hood "I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words."

All products are 100% Cruelty-Free (they do not test products or ingredients on animals) and contain no mineral oils, no phthalates, no parabens, gluten free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free 


The Bag Contained (all full sized products) :

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annhood540821.html

I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annhood540821.html

I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annhood540821.html

Bag Contains : 

• Eco-Chic Canvas Makeup Bag (worth $12 / £12) - Cute linen bag very colourful, although my print was not as good as other bags I have received and it has started to peel
• Candied Apple by Trifle (worth $18.95 / £15.95) -  A duel product for a gentle tint for lips or cheeks formulated with water-resistant, high-lustre mica for a natural-looking blush. Easily to use and natural looking, does not really have a smell which is good.
• Primal Instinct by So Susan (worth $23.95 / £20.95) - A lightweight gel goes on easily to "blur out large pores, facial imperfections and instantly helps to improve skintone and mattify unwanted shine" Comes in a small tube but you only use a few dots so should last for a while, very lightweight and I tested it on a hot day and it did stop me having a shiny nose.
• Raspberry Ripple by Trifle (worth $17.95 / £14.95) - A trio of light-enhancing blush shades in a portable palette to be used for contouring, "Brush the left and middle shades (both with Radiance Glow ™ pigments) onto apples of your cheeks when you need color & illumination. Use the last shade on the right (with pure Resveratrol) to help give color, moisture & reduce hyperpigmentation." I used as eye shadows, really liked the colour combination they had strong pigments and blends well.
• BONUS ITEM : Blush&Contour by Jelly Pong Pong (worth $17.95 / £13.95) - Another blush "Add additional warmth to your skin with a touch of Blush+Contour that comes in a soft blusher shade & a shadow enhancer. The apricot and blossom-pink colours are just one notch up from natural. For a flattering high cheek bone, softly dust the brown-toned enhancer shade just below your cheekbones." Again I used as eye shadows, very strong pigments and blends well, I liked these colours!

Bag Value : $90.80 / £77.80

A good bag, I was surprised it had 3 cheek products but really to me it was a lip tint and two shadows and you can never have to many eye shadows!!.

Bag Value : $83.80 / £70.85 (subscription is $20.95 free shipping monthly worldwide, they are a London/ UK based company) I paid for a 3 month subscription as its works out a little cheaper, a 6 month subscription is also available.

My Little Box May 2016

This months box was the "My Dolce Vita Box". A nicely illustrated box with an Italian theme although I think like last months box the theme was very loose. I don't remember seeing lots of women wearing turbans anytime I was in Italy? Maybe I was not looking? which brings me to the first of the liftstyle items a green floral turban style headband (RRP £11), not really me but useful for when putting on/ taking off makeup. The next item was more in line with the theme a little laurel wreath style Ring £12 cute. In the little cotton bag was 3 beauty items a My little Beauty own brand - Illuminating moisturiser for legs £8 may test it but most tanning products turn my ghost white skin orange, not a good look. A nice sized perfume sample by Courrèges - La fille de l'air (sample size 8.5ml, full size rrp. €65 per 50ml) This is a little too floral and strong for me but works well left in my yarn bag (one of many) as it makes the yarn smell nice. Finally Baija - Croisière Céladon Body Oil (sample size 30ml, full size rrp. €16.90 per 50ml) another very large sample lightly scented with Jasmin green tea in sweet almond, sesame and sunflower seed oil. 

Sadly I was not over excited when I opened this box and so cancelled my subscription, I will keep looking at up and coming boxes and if they improve will re-subscribe as I still like the idea of the mixture of lifestyle and beauty items. I have joined a different type of box service also, I will write about in a few days.

My Little Box is a French company, sends to different countries but the contents can vary. £11+ P&P

Birchbox May

A little busy this month I am way behind with blogging. This months Birchbox arrived last week (all my boxes arrived within days of each other so been testing everything out, plus catching on paperwork for work (very important to buy bills!) This months Birchbox had a scratch top box, two boxes had the word winner printed on them only to be revealed after scratching the silver off, you could have won a holiday, my box did not have winner on it :( but it was fun scratching off the silver to see if it did, plus it reveals a very nice design, so all good fun.
Inside this months box (in the little bag) were 1 full sized item and 5 samples.
The full sized item was from Spectrum Collections a "Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge" (Full size item price £4.99) We were given the choice of two colours pink or lilac, I picked lilac, so I knew this item was included in this months box. The sponge comes in a little plastic resealable bag, very Handy for travelling. The sponge is slightly harder than others I have tried but I liked that, very nice and may re-purchase, as its cheaper than a lot of other sponges out there.
The five samples (in no order) Philip Kingsley -PK Prep Polishing Balm (sample size 20ml, full sized 75ml £18.50) a hair smoothing balm that works on all hair types to smooth, condition, and tame whatever style you’re after. Contains nourishing ProVitamin B5 and vitamin A to add shine and gloss while nourishing your locks. My hair goes frizzy when it raining or when its sunny, generally its always frizzy! I used a tiny amount (less then 1/4 of a pea  amount) and it made my hair so shiny and a lot less frizzness, plus it did not make my hair look greasy, I will be buying this product when the sample runs out I really love it. Sorry the next sample is not in the photo of the box contents as it was put straight into my bag when I opened the box, for when I'm out 'n' about. TheBalm® cosmetics "Stainiac" in Beauty Queen a hint of a tint for lips and cheeks (sample size 1.2ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00) It has a very suble tint/ colour, its quick and simple to use. I did apply twice for a better colour but it was still very natural looking which I like.
Caudalie Vinosource "Moisturising Sorbet" a gel/ cream a very lightweight non greasy moisturiser, the sample was 10ml but only contained approx. two pea sized amounts of cream so tried it in the morning and night. It was a good moisturiser but I did not like the smell and as the full size is £23.00 for 40ml I think its too expensive!
Rituals - "Dao Wai Wang Body Scrub" (sample size 75ml, full sized 325ml £19.50) enriched with white lotus and yi yi ren to calm the skin’s surface. I love this scrub, the smell is not over powering but light and uplifting. The scrub uses Chinese bamboo particles and does not scratch up your skin but leaves it smooth and feeling very soft and moisturised. I am really enjoying using this
(sample size 20ml, full sized 8.5ml £10.00)
The final sample was a Vita Coco Coconut Oil (sample size tiny 5ml, full sized 500ml £10.00) this is 100% organic raw cold pressed coconut oil. I use coconut oil for so many things cooking, hair, teeth, skin, nails, this sample will go in my travel bag very handy.
All in all a very nice box, that I am enjoying using










Note: If you want £5.00 worth of points with your first box click https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/nezumi6 currently you can get a free full-sizefull-size Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter worth £8.95 with the first box - just put the code GLOWGIRL in the promo code box before ordering.  So that's a free Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter highlighter and £5.00 in points, don't forgot to review the products when you get them and that's up to another £5.00 worth of points to spend in their shop. 
Birchbox UK cost £10.00 plus 2.95 p&p monthly, you can cancel at any time via your online account. They are an American company, different countries receive different boxes and products.